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If you’re like most Americans, you have debt. For many people, some debt is fine — even healthy when it’s connected to a financial goal such as owning a home or earning a degree. But how much debt is too much?

Your debt-to-income ratio — or how your debt stacks up to your income — can help you determine whether you have too much debt to tackle on your own. For example, debt loads (excluding a mortgage and student loans) greater than 40% of your annual income may be overwhelming.

If your debt is causing you stress or sleepless nights, then it’s likely time to assess what you owe and pay off your debt.

Figure out your debt-to-income ratio

Use the calculator below to tease out your debt-to-income ratio and whether your debt is problematic. The calculator will also offer recommendations for what to do next.

Enter your various debts — such as credit card payments and medical bills — and your income into this calculator. Student loans and mortgages tend to be less problematic forms of debt, so set those aside for now.

Look at your debt-to-income ratio for these riskier categories of debt:

If it’s less than 15%, your debt load is within the range considered affordable compared with your earnings; look into DIY methods like debt snowball or debt avalanche

If it’s 40% or more, your debt load is high risk; consider getting advice from a bankruptcy attorney

Think of those guidelines as a general rule of thumb. “There is no one rule for debt,” says David Nash, a certified financial planner at Magister Wealth in San Antonio, Texas. However, he adds, “If your debt level is increasing as a percentage of your income, that indicates some tougher tradeoffs need to be considered.”

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Distinguish between good debt and bad debt

A first step in assessing your debt is separating the good, the bad and the toxic. A mortgage with an annual percentage rate of 3.5%, for example, can be weighed differently than a credit card with a 20% APR.

What’s good debt?

When the interest rate is low and fixed, and the loan is used to buy something that grows in value, like a house, business or college education. It’s also good if the interest is tax-deductible, like most mortgage and student loan interest.

What’s bad debt?

Loans with high or variable interest rates that are used to buy things that lose value or get used up. Examples include high-interest personal loans for discretionary purchases like vacations, auto loans stretching five years or longer, or high-interest credit cards with increasing balances.

What’s toxic debt?

No-credit-check and payday loans with APRs above 36%, loans so long you end up paying more than the item is worth, or loans requiring collateral you can’t afford to lose, like your car.

Bad debt has crushing interest costs and limits your cash flow, savings and ability to borrow for goals like buying a home, says Erika Safran, a certified financial planner with Safran Wealth Advisors in New York City.

But a low-interest mortgage that you can comfortably afford shouldn’t keep you up at night.

common warning signs of problem debt

Your debt balance is not going down despite regular payments

You’re living paycheck to paycheck, with no money at the end of the month

You’re not contributing to an employer-sponsored retirement plan because you need the money

You’re unable to build an emergency fund of at least $500 to buffer against financial shocks

You’re using credit cards for cash advances

See how your debt compares

Over three-quarters (77.1%) of American families have debt, according to a September 2017 report from the Federal Reserve. Families with debt had a median balance of $59,800. The report breaks down the percentage of families that carry different types of debt, shown in the table below.

How to handle an overload: Look into refinancing, or consider downsizing or moving to a lower-cost area. If you’re refinancing or changing homes in your 40s or 50s, choose a 15- or 20-year mortgage, so you can be mortgage-free by retirement.

Guideline: Don’t borrow more for a degree than you expect to make in your first year in the workforce. If you expect a starting salary of $40,000, for example, limit your loans to $10,000 per year for a four-year degree. Overborrowing is a common regret among student loan recipients, according to NerdWallet research.

How to handle an overload: Explore your repayment options, including income-driven repayment plans and refinancing.

Guideline: Experts say your total auto costs — including car payment — should stay within 20% of your take-home pay. Car loans should be for four years or fewer and ideally accompanied by a 20% down payment. That way you don’t spend years owing more than the car is worth.

Guideline: Medical debt is a special case since health care expenses are often beyond consumers’ control. This type of debt is generally interest-free, but the amounts involved can make it unmanageable.

How to handle an overload: Try negotiating with the billing office to lower the amount due or set up an affordable payment plan. Take steps to cover the costs on your own if possible, but you may need to look into debt relief.

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